Compare towns
Walden vs Derby Line vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Derby Line has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Topsham has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Walden | Derby Line | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037Highest |
783Lowest |
999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
46.7±13.3Lowest 8% above VT |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Derby Line and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.9%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Line and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$71,518±$25kLowest 12% below VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
| Walden and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23kHighest 25% below VT |
$201,000±$52kLowest 37% below VT |
$222,900±$56k 30% below VT |
| Walden and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136 27% below VT |
$835±$334Lowest 32% below VT |
$908±$398Highest 26% below VT |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 22% below VT |
$3,275Lowest 35% below VT |
$4,006Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
35.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±9.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.